Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai authorized to provide birth certificates to children of refugees; PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner

in Chennai has been given the authority to provide birth certificates to children of refugee families that had gone to India after 1983. The Prime Minister was responding to a query raised by Parliamentarian Douglas Devananda.
The Prime Minister said that according to the Government policy, citizenship is being granted to citizens of Sri Lanka who had gone to India and other countries after 1983. Some had secured citizenship of other countries and are seeking dual citizenship in Sri Lanka. The handing of dual citizenship to them has been relaxed. Also an opportunity has been granted to those who are willing to return to Sri Lanka. Refugees in India also come under this sector.
The Prime Minister said that a report has been sought from India on the refugees. The necessary facilities have been accorded through the Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai to grant birth certificates to the children of the refugee families. For this purpose the Deputy High Commissioner has been appointed as an Assistant Registrar General.
The Prime Minister pointed out that no fee will be levied for children below 22 years of age after 2003 to reside in Sri Lanka. He added that action is being taken to apply this mechanism also for those above 22 years of age.